Guru (born Keith Elam) has died.
According to a post on DJ Premier’s blog, Guru died yesterday after a long battle with cancer.
I had the opportunity to interview the man last year, but seeing as he was refusing to discuss Gang Starr, and I wasn’t particularly feeling the Jazzmatazz album he was promoting, I turned it down. Stupid, stupid stupid.
“I, Guru, am writing this letter to my fans, friends and loved ones around the world. I have had a long battle with cancer and have succumbed to the disease. I have suffered with this illness for over a year. I have exhausted all medical options. I have a non-profit organization called Each One Counts dedicated to carrying on my charitable work on behalf of abused and disadvantaged children from around the world and also to educate and research a cure for this terrible disease that took my life. I write this with tears in my eyes, not of sorrow but of joy for what a wonderful life I have enjoyed and how many great people I have had the pleasure of meeting.”
The rest of his statement takes on slight vitriol to ex-DJ, DJ Premier – but I love the music of Gang Starr – it’s far superior to Guru’s work with Solar. ’Just to get a rep’ was a firm fixture in all my DJ sets as a youth.
Shit. Just listen to it and play his records loud. RIP Guru. x